Jorge Tadeo Lozano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jorge Tadeo Lozano
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Miniature by Víctor Moscoso
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| 1st President of Cundinamarca and Vicegerent of the King's Person | |
| In office April 1, 1811 – September 19, 1811 |
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| Monarch | Ferdinand VII of Spain |
| Preceded by | Office created* |
| Succeeded by | Antonio Nariño |
| President of the Constituent Electoral College of Cundinamarca | |
| In office February 27, 1811 – April 4, 1811 |
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| Vice President | Fernando Caycedo |
| Constituency | Soto |
| Mayor of Bogotá | |
| In office 1799–1799 |
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| Monarch | Viceroy Pedro Mendinueta y Múzquiz |
| Preceded by | Nicolás Bernal |
| Succeeded by | Fernando Zuleta |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jorge Tadeo Lozano de Peralta y González Manrique
January 30, 1771 Santafé de Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Viceroyalty of New Granada |
| Died | July 6, 1816 (aged 45) Santafé de Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Viceroyalty of New Granada |
| Nationality | Neogranadine |
| Spouse | María Tadea Lozano e Isasi |
| Alma mater | Our Lady of the Rosary University |
| Occupation | Journalist, politician, professor |
| Profession | Zoologist, Botanist, Chemist Soldier (Captain) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Spain |
| Branch/service | Spanish Army |
| Years of service | (1772–1774) |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Walloon Guards |
| Battles/wars | War of the Pyrenees |
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Jorge Tadeo Lozano de Peralta, Viscount of Pastrana (born January 30, 1771 – died July 6, 1816) was an important scientist, journalist, and politician from New Granada (which is now Colombia). He was the first President of Cundinamarca in 1811. He also led the group that created the first constitution for Cundinamarca.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jorge Tadeo Lozano was born on January 30, 1771, in Santafé de Bogotá. This city was the capital of the Viceroyalty of New Granada, which is now Colombia. His parents were the Marqueses of San Jorge, a very important and wealthy family.
Jorge Tadeo was a true "Renaissance man." This means he was skilled in many different areas. He received an excellent education. He studied literature, philosophy, and medicine at the Colegio Mayor del Rosario, now known as Our Lady of the Rosary University.
After his studies, he joined the military. He continued his education in Spain as part of the Walloon Guards. He even fought for Spain against the French in the War of the Pyrenees. He became a Captain in the Royal Spanish Army. While in Madrid, he also studied Chemistry and Mathematics. After his military service, he traveled through Europe and lived in Paris for a while.
When Lozano returned to New Granada in 1797, he joined several discussion groups. These groups, called tertulias, were places where important people met. They talked about new ideas. One famous group was led by Antonio Nariño. Other important people like Francisco Antonio Zea also attended.
Journalism and New Ideas
In 1801, Lozano helped start a newspaper called Correo curioso, erudito, económico y mercantil de la ciudad de Santafé de Bogotá. This was only the third newspaper ever in the history of Colombia. It was published every week from February to December 1801.
Newspapers like this were very important. They helped people in New Granada share ideas. They started to think about governing themselves. They wanted their own economy and culture, separate from Europe. This helped set the stage for their future independence. Lozano wrote articles about how to improve the economy of the region.
Lozano returned to journalism in 1814. He started another newspaper called El anteojo de larga vista. This paper was short-lived, but its articles were full of patriotic feelings. They encouraged people to support independence.
Political Career
Lozano's first political role was in 1799. He became the Mayor of Bogotá for a short time. In 1807, he was appointed to protect the rights of Indigenous people. He worked in areas like Bosa, Fusagasugá, and Usaquén.
When the movement for independence began, Lozano joined the cause. He became more involved in politics. After the events of independence in New Granada, a special meeting was called. This meeting, a constituent assembly, aimed to create a new government. Lozano was chosen as a representative. He was then elected President of the Constituent Electoral College. This group had both executive and law-making powers.
This group wrote the first constitution for Cundinamarca. It was a liberal constitution. It recognized the King of Spain as the monarch. However, it said that the Viceroy no longer had power. This made the colony a kind of self-governing state. On April 1, 1811, Jorge Tadeo Lozano became the first President of the new confederation called the United Provinces of New Granada.
Why He Resigned
Even though Lozano was elected president, his time in office was short. He faced a lot of criticism. Some people thought he was not strong enough as a leader. He was also criticized for his family's actions. His biggest opponent was Antonio Nariño. Nariño used his newspaper, La Bagatela, to openly call for Lozano to leave office.
Many people were unhappy with Lozano. They criticized him for his connections to Spain. They also disliked his noble title. Because of this pressure, Lozano resigned on September 19, 1811. Antonio Nariño then took over as president. After resigning, Lozano left politics. He focused on his studies and personal life.
Death and Lasting Impact
During the Reconquista, Spanish forces tried to take back control of New Granada. Pablo Morillo, a Spanish general, invaded Bogotá. He started a period called the "Reign of Terror." During this time, many people who supported independence were hunted down and punished.
Morillo targeted Lozano because of his political roles. He had been involved in the Congress and the revolutionary newspaper El anteojo. Most importantly, he had been President of Cundinamarca. Spanish soldiers arrested him. His possessions were taken away. After two months in prison, he was executed by a firing squad. This happened on July 6, 1816, in Bogotá. The place is now known as the Plaza de los Mártires.
Jorge Tadeo Lozano is remembered as a hero of Colombia's independence. He also made big contributions to science. His work in Zoology, Botany, and his expeditions helped build the foundation for science education in the country. The Jorge Tadeo Lozano University was named in his honor.
Personal Life
When Lozano returned to New Granada, he fell in love with his niece, María Tadea Lozano e Isasi. She was the daughter of his older brother. He wanted to marry her, but the Roman Catholic Church usually did not allow marriage between close relatives. He asked for special permission, called a "dispensation," from the Archbishop of Bogotá.
To get this permission, he paid a large sum of money. This money was used to help educate girls and decorate churches. He also helped build an aqueduct in Funza. The church granted him permission on June 28, 1797. He married María Tadea on July 2 of the same year. They had eight children together:
- Jorge Miguel
- Rafael
- Federico
- José
- María Clemencia
- Juan
- Francisca
- Manuela
Titles and Roles
Jorge Tadeo Lozano held the title of Viscount of Pastrana. This was a special title given to the oldest son of the Marquess of San Jorge. His older brother first held the title. But he gave it to Jorge Tadeo when Jorge Tadeo married his daughter.
As President of Cundinamarca, Lozano acted like a temporary Viceroy of New Granada. He even used the royal style of "Jorge I of Cundinamarca." However, the King of Spain did not recognize him.
See also
In Spanish: Jorge Tadeo Lozano para niños
